Time for a Major Shakeup

[ripcityboy]

To be fair their idea of playing CJ and Dame together more, and bringing in an ET-lead second unit with better shooters around him did look like it was going to work for a while. I think it is good to try something like that before you dump CJ. Unfortunately it wasn't sustainable, although not for the reasons I thought it would be (defense falling off the face of the planet).

Yeah. Using the the same players in different roles doesn't give them more strengths, just disguises their weaknesses for a while. I honestly don't know how this team is going to make it (possibly another 12 months) with no changes. Even the most manageable players have to feel like they are going somewhere or the rot will set in. These guys are busting their ass every night. That kind of effort has to lead to some logical conclusion whether it's up or down.

 

[hoopsjock]

I hate to say it we probably need couple years in the lottery. We got some of the frame work already in Dame Nurk Zach and our 2 rookies. In next 2 years we can get rid of 6 players in our rotation. Now your probably wonder why I haven't mentioned CJ due I think he needs to be traded for the future either players or draft picks or both. CJ to mean is on dimensional player and that on offense. I know some of you guys will think I am crazy about this. But really I think the rest of the league has figured out how to beat us due to we are right back same old offense and same old defense. The last 2 years we had big runs at the end of the year. But a old saying go you can reach in the well so many times until you come back empty.

If your solution is the lottery, trading CJ for a pick that is likely a lottery one and salary filler would possibly give us two lottery picks in the 2019 draft because we'd probably fall out of the playoffs. Is that the best strategy when including Dame as part of the core?

 

[Hoopguru]

Almost the definition of insanity. This team got boat raced by a #6 seed and came back with basically the same group. Not sure how Neil/Stotts thought this would be any different.

Im sure the GM's of the following teams thought they'd be better at this point in the season.
Celts 13-10
Pacers 13-10
Pels 12-12
Rockets 11-11
Spurs 11-12
Wolves 11-12
Jazz 11-13
Its a long season...
Its a league of canna-boles

 

[BBert]

Since BGD seems to be busy with something else:

 

[Propagandist]

I don't really want to fight, but aren't some of the loyalists tired of this brand of basketball? And this (not funny) Groundhog's Day?

 

[e_blazer]

I don't really want to fight, but aren't some of the loyalists tired of this brand of basketball? And this (not funny) Groundhog's Day?

For me, the question has always been whether it's possible to pick up a player or two in trade of free agency that can be added to what the Blazers currently have and that will push them into contention. I think we've seen by Olshey's moves to date that he's primarily been rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. I wanted to believe that he could add the missing ingredients, but he just keeps bringing in other versions of the same inadequate ingredients. I hate to say it, but in my book, he's got until the trade deadline to pull off a big trade or else he needs to pull the plug and trade both CJ and Dame. I'm not willing to see those two guys stuck in this mud much longer.

 

[Propagandist]

For me, the question has always been whether it's possible to pick up a player or two in trade of free agency that can be added to what the Blazers currently have and that will push them into contention. I think we've seen by Olshey's moves to date that he's primarily been rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. I wanted to believe that he could add the missing ingredients, but he just keeps bringing in other versions of the same inadequate ingredients. I hate to say it, but in my book, he's got until the trade deadline to pull off a big trade or else he needs to pull the plug and trade both CJ and Dame. I'm not willing to see those two guys stuck in this mud much longer.

What you said.

I don't even blame Olshey. He tried. It just feels like it hasn't worked out. The pieces don't fit, or almost fit but not quite, and even if they did other teams have even better pieces that fit even better together.

I would gladly go Boston post-KG and Pierce at this point. Goodbye everyone over 25.

 

[TBpup]

Boat raced by a team that won 1 fewer games than they did....

Yes, it was a jumble from 3-8....but the bigger point is the 'boat raced' portion. HCA and couldn't win a single game......weren't really even competitive except for one game. Bigger picture.

 

[James lamphear]

What you said.

I don't even blame Olshey. He tried. It just feels like it hasn't worked out. The pieces don't fit, or almost fit but not quite, and even if they did other teams have even better pieces that fit even better together.

I would gladly go Boston post-KG and Pierce at this point. Goodbye everyone over 25.

His biggest mistake was giving out those contacts to Harkless Leonard ET right there tied his hands until after next year.

 

[Gronk Brady]

What you said.

I don't even blame Olshey. He tried. It just feels like it hasn't worked out. The pieces don't fit, or almost fit but not quite, and even if they did other teams have even better pieces that fit even better together.

I would gladly go Boston post-KG and Pierce at this point. Goodbye everyone over 25.

It’s clear to everyone except Bones that the peices don’t fit... unfortunately Neil’s ego is too big to admit he is wrong and will go down with the sinking ship... the lottery rebuild is inevitable but he will delay it 3-4 years so we will have to wait for a decade to have a team that can win a play series

 

[TBpup]

It sucks to think about a rebuild and it would be great to see it happen on the fly without having to decline to the 25-35 win area. At the same time, you want growth instead of stagnation and I'd be hard pressed to see any significant growth curve. Yes, they got a #3 seed but that was the lowest WC #3 seed record in quite some time so it wasn't so much growth as it was other teams regressing. And then there was what they did with that #3 seed....ugh.

Dame has become better but the team hasn't followed suit. They are 6-18 in the Playoffs in the last 4 years. They have a 56% winning percentage in the regular season in the last 4+ years....that is good for an average of 46 wins per season. Average Playoff seed in the last 4+ years including this year so far....5.4.

This season they are currently on pace for 46 wins....right at that 56% average. They are currently 7th, below the average Playoff seed of 5.4.

Where is the growth? How long do the Blazers wait and just continue to do the same? I so want this team to be successful but in it's current formation, just don't see how that is going to work.

 

[Propagandist]

It’s clear to everyone except Bones that the peices don’t fit... unfortunately Neil’s ego is too big to admit he is wrong and will go down with the sinking ship... the lottery rebuild is inevitable but he will delay it 3-4 years so we will have to wait for a decade to have a team that can win a play series

I think Neil has to go down with the ship at this point whether he wants to or not. With Paul Allen gone, (not that it actually makes a difference either way as far as roster improvement, but) it seems unlikely Neil will even be authorized to do anything meaningful. Maybe Stotts will get fired before the team sells. Maybe. But it won't be until the team sells that meaningful changes are made, I'd guess. And at that point, unless it is someone local (then all bets are off) that buys the team, I expect there to be wholesale changes. The sale can't come soon enough!

 

[Binx]

This team got boat raced by a #6 seed and came back with basically the same group.

Boat raced? Sorry, can you explain that?

 

[ripcityboy]

I think Neil has to go down with the ship at this point whether he wants to or not. With Paul Allen gone, (not that it actually makes a difference either way as far as roster improvement, but) it seems unlikely Neil will even be authorized to do anything meaningful. Maybe Stotts will get fired before the team sells. Maybe. But it won't be until the team sells that meaningful changes are made, I'd guess. And at that point, unless it is someone local (then all bets are off) that buys the team, I expect there to be wholesale changes. The sale can't come soon enough!

Dude, the sale is 12 months away. If that. This team will self destruct before then. If NOTHING changes. No player wants to be on the basketball equivalent of a chicken running around with it's head cut off. Their careers are too short and they work too hard. Do you think Dame's agent is going to sit and twiddle his thumbs and not look for a team with a better situation. The NBA moves at light speed even when the Blazers plan at a slug's place.

12 months? This shit has been going on three years or four years without even an acknowledgement of where the hell we are going....

 

[joeBlazers]

The West is very tough. Bad teams have been drafting talent (Mavs, Kings, Suns, Jazz) or signing FA (Lakers).
The real problem is that our defense hasn't improved in all those years under Stotts.

 

[Gronk Brady]

Continuity is supposed to be this team’s strength... if they are still playing like this after 3 years together there is no hope... blow this shot up now and put Blzers fans out of their misery

 

[TBpup]

Boat raced? Sorry, can you explain that?

In a boat race, once one boat has a lead, it is very difficult to make up the distance. Once the Blazers got behind in the 3 of those 4 Playoff games, they were basically over and there weren't many comebacks. The NBA is full of runs and usually some time of comeback occurs. That didn't happen much in last year's playoffs.

 

[3putt]

Here’s something for the couch GMs. A serious question. What really is the upside for Nurk. Not just the fanboy reactions based on a few games when he scores against some 2nd and 3rd level centers. But really. Is he really somebody that you want on a nucleus of your rebuilding effort? He’s a big guy yeah but can’t handle the ball. Hardly any vertical. I wonder sometimes if he’s going to get rim checked when He has to take a step to the rim. Standing under the rim he gets the dunk but many times it looks like it’s just enough. Makes some nice passes though but does make more untimely poor passes. He’s a pretty good double double guy but that could be a good job as a second unit guy too. Anyway do not want to completely bash him but I am just curious if it’s just me. FWIW I thought this last year too it’s not just the recent losing streak.

 

[tester551]

Here’s something for the couch GMs. A serious question. What really is the upside for Nurk. Not just the fanboy reactions based on a few games when he scores against some 2nd and 3rd level centers. But really. Is he really somebody that you want on a nucleus of your rebuilding effort? He’s a big guy yeah but can’t handle the ball. Hardly any vertical. I wonder sometimes if he’s going to get rim checked when He has to take a step to the rim. Standing under the rim he gets the dunk but many times it looks like it’s just enough. Makes some nice passes though but does make more untimely poor passes. He’s a pretty good double double guy but that could be a good job as a second unit guy too. Anyway do not want to completely bash him but I am just curious if it’s just me. FWIW I thought this last year too it’s not just the recent losing streak.

Nurk is easily our second best player right now. Hes not the issue

 

[TBpup]

2 games out of the #14 spot in the Western Conference.....Yuck!

Fortunately, the next game is at Home against the #15 seed in the West and owners of the worst record in the NBA. This is a #ScheduleWin if I've ever seen one.

 

[rumbletumble2]

2 games out of the #14 spot in the Western Conference.....Yuck!

Fortunately, the next game is at Home against the #15 seed in the West and owners of the worst record in the NBA. This is a #ScheduleWin if I've ever seen one.

Idk...they scored 9 points in the first quarter alone and still manage to put more points overall compared to us.

 

[TBpup]

Idk...they scored 9 points in the first quarter alone and still manage to put more points overall compared to us.

Good point. Our defense could turn that 9 point quarter into 30+ in a heartbeat. Maybe the @Darkwebs thread poll should be, "What Suns player will have a season or career high against the Blazers tonight?"

 

[THE HCP]

2 games out of the #14 spot in the Western Conference.....Yuck!

Fortunately, the next game is at Home against the #15 seed in the West and owners of the worst record in the NBA. This is a #ScheduleWin if I've ever seen one.

Wow, JINX post if I’ve ever seen one.

 

[TBpup]

Wow, JINX post if I’ve ever seen one.

But is it JinxSpeed?

 

[blazerkor]

For me, the question has always been whether it's possible to pick up a player or two in trade of free agency that can be added to what the Blazers currently have and that will push them into contention. I think we've seen by Olshey's moves to date that he's primarily been rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. I wanted to believe that he could add the missing ingredients, but he just keeps bringing in other versions of the same inadequate ingredients. I hate to say it, but in my book, he's got until the trade deadline to pull off a big trade or else he needs to pull the plug and trade both CJ and Dame. I'm not willing to see those two guys stuck in this mud much longer.

Trade CJ not Dame and build a young core around Dame. With a 2 guard with good size and lateral quickness Dame could be part of a good defensive back court. I don't think you ever trade Dame. He means too much to the community and the franchise.

 

[e_blazer]

Trade CJ not Dame and build a young core around Dame. With a 2 guard with good size and lateral quickness Dame could be part of a good defensive back court. I don't think you ever trade Dame. He means too much to the community and the franchise.

Why do you hate Dame so much?

Seriously though, Dame is at his peak right now. He’s been an absolute rock in his loyalty to the Blazers, but to ask him to sacrifice his peak years for a rebuild may be a bit too much.

 

[hoopsjock]

Why the fuck did they have to get off to a good start, I wish they just played this crappy from the start.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Why the fuck did they have to get off to a good start, I wish they just played this crappy from the start.

I wish they had just kept playing winning.
I get what you're saying i'm just being a butt.

 

[hoopsjock]

I wish they had just kept playing winning.
I get what you're saying i'm just being a butt.

I know, but if the season started this way I think there would've been a shakeup already.

 

[Rozay]

Trade CJ not Dame and build a young core around Dame. With a 2 guard with good size and lateral quickness Dame could be part of a good defensive back court. I don't think you ever trade Dame. He means too much to the community and the franchise.

Oh fuck that community and franchise bull shit man.. let the guy go so he can enjoy himself somewhere. The Dame era since LMA left has been nothing but mediocrity.

The guy is nearly 30 and your saying build around him AGAIN? Lmao

It’s over bud. The best thing to do is strip this shit to the studs and build it right. We can get a shit load of picks for Dame and Cj. Dallas, Sac, Denver, they all passed us up now. Shit with Phx getting Ayton and having Devin Booker 1 more lottery year for them and they might even have passed us.

This shit has been a colossal failure since LMA left